Utilization of Synthetic Zeolite for Removal of Anionic Dyes

THE REMOVAL performance of highly colored soluble organic pollutpollutants in water has been investigated. Comparative adsorption studies of some anionic dyes on commercially zeolite X and zeolite X powder prepared from Egyptian kaolin have been studied. Brilliant blue FCF (BL), brilliant black PN (BB), eriochrome black T (EBT) and ponceau 3R (P3R) were introduced as models for organic pollutants of different structures. For comparison, the properties of the synthetic zeolite and commercial grade zeolite, such as crystallinity, thermal stability and cation exchange capacity using XRD, DSC and atomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively were conducted. UV/visible spectroscopic measurements have been used to determine the amount of adsorbed dyes by zeolites. The adsorption capacities for batch method were recorded. The influential parameters, such as initial pH value of the solution, temperature, adsorbate concentration and ion exchange on the adsorption process were studied. The suitability of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms to the equilibrium data was investigated in the solid-liquid system. In all the adsorption experiments, the variation of adsorption capacities were recorded and explained in terms of both zeolite behaviour and dyes structures. Attempts to regenerate the adsorbents physically (at high temperature) were also made and the adsorptive properties of the recovered zeolite have been provided.